April 18th, 2018
Drs. Robert Remien and Bryan Kutner from the HIV Center were invited by the Columbia iQ* LGBTQ student group to the HIV/AIDS Today event as panel discussants. The event hosted conversations about the state of HIV/AIDS in New York City, including new and emerging scientific findings. Drs. Remien and Kutner joined Angela Aidala PhD (Associate Research Scientist in Sociomedical Sciences) and Daniel Chiarelli PhD (Associate Director of Columbia's Gay Health Advocacy Project) for a Q/A discussion about myths and facts, biomedical interventions (e.g., Treatment as Prevention and PrEP), Syndemics, Health Disparities, and the emergence of the “U=U” campaign (Undetectable = Untransmittable).
"We were surprised by the level of knowledge among the students. Many had heard of PrEP and some of PEP, fewer had heard of U=U or some of the promising biomedical interventions under current or planned study, like injectable PrEP, rectal microbicides, and vaginal rings."
The HIV Center is committed to collaborating with community members across NYC in order to communicate and share up-to-date findings in the HIV/AIDS prevention and intervention landscape. Dr. Kutner states “in-person outreach, responding to specific questions about the epidemic, continues to offer an opportunity to clarify misinformation.”
*Columbia iQ is the affinity group of LGBTQ undergraduates which seeks to foster queer and trans leadership and community in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). From discussions and panels to networking and employer site visits, iQ is committed to community-building, mentorship, and expanding the visibility of queer and trans individuals in STEM.
